Voice attachment to an email using a wireless communication device

• US 7,904,516 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Leap Wireless International Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chern, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, LASHANYA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US09/881,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,550 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-206, 379 8813- 8816, 379/93.01, 379/88.17, 455/450, 455/464, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multimedia electronic (mail) system and method for sending a voice message to an email recipient. The multimedia mail system includes a wireless communications network, at least one wireless communication device, an interactive voice response server for converting the voice message to a digitally stored audio file, and an email server for sending the audio file to the email recipient. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of communicatively connecting to a first server over the wireless communications network, selecting an option to send the audio file to the email recipient, communicatively connecting to a second server over the wireless communications network, recording the audio file on the second server, and sending the audio file to the email recipient.

Claims

1. A method for sending an audio file to an electronic mail (email) recipient over a wireless communications network from a user of a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

communicatively connecting to a first server over the wireless communications network;

receiving input from the user selecting an option presented by the first server to send the audio file to the email recipient;

terminating the connection with the first server and establishing an audio connection between the wireless communication device and a second server over the wireless communications network in response to the selected option, wherein the first server transmits a signal to the second server indicating a pending connection with the wireless communication device, the signal including information identifying the wireless communication device;

recording the audio file on the second server;

reconnecting, by the wireless communication device, to the first server; and

sending the recorded audio file to the email recipient as part of an email message;

wherein the wireless communication device stores a set of state information, the state information comprising a status of an interaction between the wireless communication device and the first server for allowing the wireless communication device to return to a same state in the first server that existed prior to terminating the connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicatively connecting to a first server further comprises:

dialing a phone number for connecting to the first server using the wireless communication device; and

establishing a data packet connection between the wireless communication device and the first server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the user selecting an option to send the audio file further comprises:

receiving input from the user selecting an option to compose a new email message; and

receiving input from the user selecting an option to attach the audio file to the new email message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input from the user selecting an option to send the audio file further comprises:

presenting a received email message on the wireless communication device;

receiving input from the user selecting an option to respond to the received email message; and

receiving input from the user selecting an option to attach the audio file to the response to the received email message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal further includes user identification information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording the audio file comprises:

providing an audio input through the wireless communication device; and

storing the audio input as an audio file on the second server.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing the user with at least one option, the option selected from the group consisting of:

re-recording the audio file and canceling the recording.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the audio file to the email recipient further comprises:

transmitting a signal to the first server indicating that the audio file is ready to be sent;

attaching the audio file to an electronic mail message; and

sending the electronic mail message to the email recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconnecting to the first server comprises providing the user with a plurality of options selected from the group consisting of:

listening to a second audio file stored on the second server and reconnecting to the first server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first server comprises an email server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second server comprises an interactive voice response server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second servers are connected by common platform means.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio file comprises a .wav file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the audio file to the email recipient comprises sending a hyperlink to the audio file stored on the second server.

15. A method for sending a message to an electronic mail (email) recipient over a wireless communications network from a wireless communication device, comprising:

connecting the wireless communication device to an email server by a data packet connection over the wireless communication network;

receiving input selecting an option presented by the email server to send a voice message to the email recipient;

terminating the connection between the wireless communication device and the email server, and establishing an audio connection between the wireless communication device and an interactive voice response server over the wireless communication network in response to the selected option, wherein the email server transmits a signal to the interactive voice response server indicating a pending connection with the wireless communication device, the signal including information identifying the wireless communication device;

recording the voice message on the interactive voice response server;

reconnecting, by the wireless communication device, to the email server; and

sending the recorded voice message in an attachment to an email to the email recipient;

wherein the wireless communication device stores a set of state information, the state information comprising a status of an interaction between the wireless communication device and the email server for allowing the wireless communication device to return to a same state in the email server that existed prior to terminating the connection.

16. A method of sending an audio message in association with an electronic mail (email) message, the method comprising:

providing a wireless communication device with access to an email message over a data connection between the wireless communication device and an email server;

receiving input from the wireless communication device selecting an option to associate an audio file with the email message;

terminating the data connection between the wireless communication device and the email server, and instructing the wireless communication device to connect to a voice server over an audio connection;

transmitting a signal to the voice server indicating a pending connection with the wireless communication device, wherein the signal includes information uniquely identifying the wireless communication device;

receiving input from the voice server indicating that the audio file is available;

reconnecting, by the wireless communication device, to the email server; and

transmitting a representation of the audio file as part of the email message;

wherein the wireless communication device stores state information comprising a status of an interaction between the wireless communication device and the email server for allowing the wireless communication device to return to a same state in the email server that existed prior to terminating the data connection.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the email message comprises a new email message.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the information uniquely identifying the wireless communication device comprises a telephone number corresponding to the wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the representation of the audio file comprises a link to the audio file stored on the voice server.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein instructing the wireless communication device to connect to a voice server further comprises:

transmitting to the wireless communication device a telephone number corresponding to the voice server.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving input from the voice server indicating that the audio file is available further comprises:

receiving information identifying the wireless communication device with which the audio file is associated.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information identifying the wireless communication device with which the audio file is associated comprises a telephone number corresponding to the wireless communication device.

23. A system comprising:

an electronic mail (email) server configured to transmit an audio file in association with an email message;

an interactive voice response server configured to generate audio files in response to audio input; and

a wireless communication device including processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

accessing the email message on the email server over a data connection with the email server;

transmitting to the email server an indication to associate the audio file with the accessed email message;

terminating the data connection with the email server and establishing an audio connection with the interactive voice response server, wherein the wireless communication device stores state information representing a status of an interaction between the wireless communication device and the email server for allowing the wireless communication device to return to a same state in the email server that existed prior to terminating the data connection;

communicating audio input corresponding to the audio file to the interactive voice response server; and

reconnecting to the email server before the email message and the associated audio file are transmitted;

wherein the email server is configured to transmit a signal to the interactive voice response server indicating a pending connection with the wireless communication device, the signal including information uniquely identifying the wireless communication device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the email server is further configured to receive the audio file from the interactive voice response server and transmit the audio file in association with the accessed email message.